North Korean drone penetrated no-fly zone around South Korea’s presidential office: official
SEOUL: A North Korean drone briefly entered a 3.7-kilometer-radius no-fly zone around the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul last month, a military official belatedly confirmed Thursday, reversing the defense authorities’ announcement that there was no such incident. The drone was among the five unmanned aerial vehicles that the North sent across the […]
South Korea, U.S. abruptly cut short defense cost-sharing talks
Seoul: South Korea and the United States abruptly cut short their defense cost-sharing talks Tuesday, with the U.S. chief negotiator accusing Seoul of making proposals falling short of a “fair and equitable burden sharing.” The abrupt ending underlined wide differences between the two sides after Washington’s reported demand for a fivefold increase in Seoul’s sharing […]
South Korea, U.S. decide to postpone upcoming joint air exercises for diplomacy
Bangkok: South Korea and the United States decided to put off their wintertime combined air exercises to support diplomacy with North Korea, the two sides said Sunday, with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper urging Pyongyang to reciprocate the goodwill by returning to nuclear talks. Esper and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo announced the surprise […]
Esper says U.S. will seek Japan’s efforts to resolve GSOMIA issue: Cheong Wa Dae
Seoul: U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday he will try to persuade Japan to “smoothly” resolve the dispute over the two neighbors’ military information-sharing arrangement, according to the presidential office. During a 50-minute meeting with Esper at Cheong Wa Dae, Moon explained his government’s basic position that it’s […]
Pentagon chief calls for renewal of Seoul-Tokyo intel-sharing pact
Seoul: U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper urged South Korea and Japan on Friday to work together to renew their expiring military information-sharing pact, saying its termination will only benefit North Korea and China. Esper made the call during a joint press conference with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo after holding their annual Security Consultative […]
U.S. defense secretary open to altering military activity in South Korea
Washington: U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that he is open to altering military activity in South Korea if it helps diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea. Esper made the remark to reporters flying with him to Seoul, where he is due to hold annual defense talks with Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo. “We will adjust […]
U.S. ratchets up pressure on South Korea to jack up share of defense costs
Seoul: The United States is ramping up pressure on South Korea to sharply increase Seoul’s share of the expenses for stationing American troops here, apparently with an eye to expanding the scope of their cost-sharing deal to cover activities outside the peninsula. This week, James DeHart, the top U.S. negotiator in the allies’ defense cost-sharing […]
Moon, Saudi crown prince discuss global response to attack on oil facilities
Seoul: The leaders of South Korea and Saudi Arabia agreed Wednesday to strengthen partnerships in the fight against terrorist acts, such as the recent drone attack on oil facilities in the Middle Eastern nation. In phone talks, President Moon Jae-in and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also emphasized the importance of a unified response to […]
Mongolia, U.S. agree to enhance defense cooperation
Ulaanbaatar: United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Mongolia’s Minister of Defense Nyamaagiin Enkhbold have discussed the participation of Mongolia in peacekeeping operations and defense cooperation between Mongolia and the U.S., the official state agency has said. The Mongolian side noted that the US is a country of top priority in terms of […]
S. Korea, U.S. agree to discuss defense cost sharing in ‘reasonable, fair’ way
South Korea and the United States have agreed to conduct discussions in a “reasonable and fair” way on how to share the cost for the upkeep of American troops here, a foreign ministry official here said Tuesday. The two sides talked about the upcoming negotiations over Seoul’s share of the cost for the stationing of […]